Catch US-inspired Christmas Train Show at Gardens by the Bay

At the heart of the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay (GBTB), miniature model trains traverse tracks of various kinds, such as complex railroads, loops and overhead trails spanning more than 100m, bringing cheer to the festive season.

- Fatmah Khan

The GBTB Christmas Train Show was launched on Dec 2 by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat and US Ambassador to Singapore Jonathan Kaplan. This is the first time the Gardens has brought in this longstanding American festive tradition, and the show will run till Jan 5.

The train show is a partnership between the Gardens' horticulturists, New York Botanical Garden, the US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, and garden railway specialist company Applied Imagination. Since train shows are a staple for families at the two US gardens during Christmas, GBTB aims to replicate the celebration of family bonds in the same manner here.

Five miniature trains will chug around intricate botanical models of iconic landmarks, such as the Empire State Building and Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, alongside a stationary train on the tracks. The landmarks are handcrafted from plant materials such as pine cone scales, twigs and seeds.